Is falling asleep easily a sign of ADD?

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I am a 35 yr old and I was diagnoses with ADD as an adult but probably had ADD my whole life. Before my meds I uses to sleep for sometimes a couple of days only waking a few times.This caused a lot of trouble in school and in work situations. Also I had a very hard time remembering things and focusing. So, in my situation, YES, Sleeping has been a problem. I now do not have these problems very often. I take straterra 80mg, concerta (time released ritalin), and wellibutrin xl 300mg. Now I feel bad if I sleep for more than 8 hours. I hope this helps because I have struggled with getting the right diagnosis for years then finding the right meds after I was diagnosed with ADD. GOOD LUCK

Answer

This is the one of the most interesting questions here. I am now 30, but was diagnosed with ADD at about the age of 22.

I always had the same problems with trying to complete my homework, following through with projects, etc. My favorite is when my family couldn't find the milk one day. We looked all over the refrigerator and trash, but new we had a least a half gallon left.?? Then, my step mom opens the cabinet to get a glass out for water and finds the milk there. I tend to put refrigerated items in the pantry as well.

Anyway, back to sleep.. I was unable to read for History and English growing up and made bad grades because I would fall asleep constantly every day when sitting still for more than 5 minutes.

This was a problem until I went to a neurologist at 25 becuase I couldn't stay awake at work and coffee would even not have an affect. I had a sleep study overnight as well as the MSLT where you take 5 naps throughout the next day. I was concluded that "no doubt about it", I have NARCOLEPSY.

Further research into narcolepsy sites uncovered that narcoleptics are usually diagnosed with ADD early on and not diagnosed with narcolepsy until around age 25. What even more interesting is that I take Ritalin to stay awake. This also would be the same medication I would take for the ADD.

The whole reason behind this is that if you do not go through the proper sleep stages during the evening (which you may or may not be able to tell), different parts of your brain, mainly the area which involves attention span and focus, (Pre Frontal Cortex, I believe) will try to get that sleep during the day. As a result, you are sleepy and unable to focus, leaving you with a major attention problem.

However, my neurologist doesn't believe in ADD and says simply that Ritalin is speed and keeps me awake. When you're awake, you can focus. Simple as that.

The only problem is that most narcoleptics can take Modafinil which is a new, non-controled substance that keeps you awake without the side-effects of speed. The doc can just call the pharmecy for a refill. If you have Excessive Daytime Sleepiness with attention span issue, you might have a sleep study done and maybe you won't have to take a controlled substance all your life.

Good luck! I feel studying the coincidences and relations or similarities between ADD, ADHD, and narcolepsy will lead us to the cause of these problems and ultimately the cure or prevention.

Answer

Well i know some one that can stay focus and falls asleep very easily but hes only 15 so i want to know if it is possible for some one so young can have ADD

First answer by Susan Wright. Last edit by ID3634468968. Question popularity: 203 [recommend question]